Metallic state in disordered quasi-one-dimensional conductors

The metallic state in conjugated polymers and single-walled carbon nanotubes is studied by dielectric spectroscopy (8--600 GHz). We have found an intriguing correlation between scattering time (τ) and plasma frequency (ωₚ):τ∝ωₚ^-1.3. This relation conflicts with the usually applied models that only consider disorder. Based on the observed parallels with doped semiconductors, we argue that the interchain coupling t_⊥ plays a role comparable to the doping level and that the unusual free-carrier dynamics in the metallic state can be explained when including the role of t_⊥ in the conventional models.